Which kinds of shows should you watch while working out? It’s not an easy question to answer. Personal taste will certainly play a part in choosing the right series, but so will the time you usually dedicate to exercising. If you work out every day, you’re probably looking for something with many seasons; if you don’t have much time, then 30 minutes episodes would be perfect for you: FRIENDS is many people’s go-to series for precisely that reason. But if you’ve already memorized that show by heart, what we’d recommend is a very immersive series that’s either action-oriented or filled with drama, which will keep your eyes glued to the screen and make you achieve your goals in no time.
Without further ado, here’s a list of 5 great shows to watch while working out, in alphabetical order!
1. The Big Bang Theory
(2007-2019)
Let’s start with a series with shorter episodes that will keep you occupied for a very long time, as its 12 seasons will provide you with a total of 280 episodes. The Big Bang Theory is a lighthearted watch, but it’s great if you’re looking for characters to get attached to, who will keep you company as you’re on the treadmill and soon start feeling like family. The premise is simple: an aspiring actress named Penny (Kaley Cuoco) moves to Pasadena, in an apartment next door to socially awkward physicists Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons) and Leonard Hofstadter (Johnny Galecki). Sheldon, Leonard, and their friends Howard (Simon Helberg) and Raj (Kunal Nayyar) are pretty much Penny’s solar opposites, yet a friendship is soon born that will be the starting point of many adventures.
The Big Bang Theory doesn’t have big twists or a complex plot, but it’s a highly entertaining show that was highly missed when it stopped airing. It will also – surprisingly – teach you things about both science and pop culture: look out for an episode where the characters find out that Indiana Jones is irrelevant to the plot of Raider of the Lost Ark and many more fun anecdotes. If you’re working out to lose weight – in which case you might be looking for supplements to support healthy weight loss – be aware that the series might make you hungry, as it features some scenes of our characters eating. Most of those scenes lead to hilarious developments, though, and that’s definitely what you’ll remember the most!
2. Bridgerton
(2020,-)
If you’re into period dramas but are looking for something lighthearted and with plenty of romance, give Bridgerton a chance! Not only is this Netflix show still ongoing, with three seasons already out and a fourth underway, but each series focuses on different characters, providing you with a variety of narrative threads to follow. We’d rather not tell you too much about what it’s about, as part of the fun is discovering its many characters on your own, but what you should know is that it mainly revolves around the titular family and some mysterious, Gossip Girl-like society papers that have the whole town talking, including the Queen.
Think balls, costumes, romance, and a dreamy atmosphere, but also strong young women who are determined to be true to themselves. If you like the series and need something to watch next, we’d recommend the spin-off, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story!
3. Orphan Black
(2013-2017)
If you’re a fan of shows like Black Mirror, Blindspot and Orange is the New Black, Orphan Black will be perfect for you. The show revolves around a British orphan named Sarah (Tatiana Maslany); when she was a child, she was constantly in between foster homes, until she was taken in by the mysterious Mrs. S (Maria Doyle Kennedy), who then moved to North America bringing both Sarah and her foster brother to North America. Mrs. S. is certainly hiding some secrets, and Sarah begins to find out how dark they might actually be when she comes across a woman named Beth who looks identical to herself and who’s just taken her own life, and decides to take her identity in the attempt to give her yet to be found daughter Kira a better life.
Needless to say, things aren’t so simple. Sarah finds out that Beth was – wait for it – Sarah’s clone, and even more shockingly, she wasn’t the only one. Over the course of its 5 seasons, Orphan Black will keep on delivering more and more twists, keeping you hooked to the screen with one of the most bingeable shows to ever hit television. Not only this, but Tatiana Maslany, who won a well-deserved Emmy for her performance in the series, plays not one but seventeen clones, each with a distinct appearance and flawless accent. Not to be missed!
4. Stranger Things
(2016-2025)
If you like science fiction and nostalgia, Stranger Things will be your next obsession! Without giving too much away, the show is set in the 1980s, in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana, and revolves around a group of teenagers – and their adult relatives – who all join forces to save the world, accompanied by a literal superhero. Stranger Things takes inspiration from classic films of the 80s, but as each season unfolds – there are 4 in total, with a fifth one incoming – it evolves into its own beast, exploring anything from ET and Ghostbusters to Carrie and A Nightmare on Elm Street. Stranger Things can be scary at times, but it never forgets about its heart, and we guarantee you’ll grow so attached to Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) and the entire Hawkins gang that you’ll want to keep watching it on repeat.
5. Ted Lasso
(2020-2023)
Ted Lasso is the most popular TV show on Apple TV+, and for good reason. Its premise is simple: a small-time college football coach from Kansas (Jason Sudeikis) is hired to coach a professional football team in England by the team’s new owner, Rebecca (Hannah Waddingham), despite knowing absolutely nothing about British football. But the moment Ted shows up on the screen, you’ll understand why this is going to be your next favorite show. Ted Lasso is jam packed with hilarious jokes and twists, while, at the same time, containing so many well-written characters and a subversive, incredibly gripping story that will pretty much make you want to binge the entirety of Season 1 right away.
If you’re working out, the added bonus is that AFC Richmond’s players often work out themselves in the series, so besides teaching you to “be a goldfish” (trust us, you’ll get this when you see it), Ted Lasso will also provide you with motivation.
The 5 shows listed above would all make for fantastic watches while you’re working out! Whether you’re looking for a lighthearted watch, a long-running sitcom, or an intense drama with plenty of characters, there’s something for everyone here. Enjoy!
Header Credits: Morsa Images via Getty Images
